He got engaged last month and had planned to marry his fiancée by year-end, but destiny had other plans for Amandeep Singh Sidhu, the 27-year-old firefighter who died on Sunday night in the Sector 17 fire, leaving behind inconsolable family members.

A resident of Malout in Punjab, Amandeep had been employed with the Fire Department of the Municipal Corporation for the last seven years. He is survived by his father and two younger brothers.

His father Darshan Singh and brother Gurpreet Singh are employed with the Punjab Police. The second brother is employed in the Punjab government. Amandeep’s friends remember him as a sensible and intelligent person. “He liked his studies and had done double MA. He wanted to do well in his life,” said Iqbal Singh, a friend.

A fireman recalled, “Amandeep, a third fireman and I were on the first floor trying to control the fire when the building collapsed. Another fireman and I jumped from the first floor, but Amandeep got buried in the debris.” He added, “I have lost a wonderful colleague and a good friend. I could not save him.”

The doctors who conducted the post-martum said Amandeep’s right hand was cut, which led to heavy loss of blood. “Shock due to haemorrhage, along with suffocation, are the most likely causes of death,” said a doctor.

K K Sharma, Advisor to the Administrator, said Amandeep’s family would be adequately compensated.